SUMMARY: Beyond dental health and diet, what else contributes to bad breath? Your body-mass index, some researcher have said. Dental health experts at the University of Tel Aviv reported finding a link between being overweight or obese and having halitosis.

Posted: January 20, 2011

Beyond dental health and diet, what else contributes to bad breath? Your body-mass index, some researcher have said. Dental health experts at the University of Tel Aviv reported finding a link between being overweight or obese and having halitosis.

Their results appeared in the Journal of Dental Research.

The study's authors first subjectively rated the smell of participants' breath on a scale of zero to five, with five being extremely pungent. They also measured levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which are the molecules that give halitosis its scent.

Researchers then took a host of body measurements. After administering a questionnaire that quantified life style habits and health risk factors, they statistically analyzed the results for any possible correlations.

They found that individuals who were overweight or obese were significantly more likely to have bad breath.

The team concluded that obesity may be a risk factor for halitosis and may even cause it through sleep apnea, labored breathing or excess consumption of fatty foods.

Individuals looking to remove the odor of bad breath may consider brushing more often and using a specialty breath freshener that neutralizes VSCs.